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Selmi R, Belkahia H, Tayh G, Mezzi A, Chibani S, Ben Said M, Messadi L. First detection of Rickettsia felis and Ehrlichia canis in the common bed bug Cimex lectularius. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 110:102200. [PMID: 38788400 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2024.102200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Bed bugs, common blood-feeding pests, have received limited attention regarding their potential involvement in emerging pathogen transmission. This study aimed to investigate the main vector-borne bacteria within bed bugs collected from Tunisian governorates and to genetically characterize the identified species. Molecular screening was conducted on field-collected bed bug samples, targeting zoonotic vector-borne bacteria from the Anaplasmataceae family, as well as the genera Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Bartonella, and Borrelia. A total of 119 Cimex lectularius specimens were collected and grouped into 14 pools based on sampling Tunisian sites. Using genus-specific PCR assays, DNA of Rickettsia and Ehrlichia spp. was detected in a single pool. Sequencing and BLAST analysis of the obtained partial ompB and dsb sequences from positive samples revealed 100% similarity with those of Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia felis available in GenBank. Obtained partial sequences showed phylogenetic similarity to R. felis and E. canis isolates found in dogs and ticks from American and European countries. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate bed bugs in Tunisia and to report the worldwide identification of R. felis and E. canis DNA in the common bed bug, C. lectularius. These findings highlight the need for further research to explore the potential role of bed bugs in the epidemiology of these vector-borne bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachid Selmi
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia; Military Center of Veterinary Medicine, General Directorate of Military Health, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Hanène Belkahia
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia
| | - Ghassan Tayh
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia
| | - Abderrahmene Mezzi
- Military Center of Veterinary Medicine, General Directorate of Military Health, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Sarra Chibani
- Military Center of Veterinary Medicine, General Directorate of Military Health, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mourad Ben Said
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia; Department of Basic Sciences, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia
| | - Lilia Messadi
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia
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Egg M, Lisy M, Bauer W, Hampel A, Valencak J, Karlhofer F, Walochnik J, Handisurya A. Disseminated bullous eruptions: bed bugs! J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2024; 22:999-1002. [PMID: 38597128 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.15392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Egg
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marcus Lisy
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Bauer
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Amélie Hampel
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Valencak
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franz Karlhofer
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Sterkel M, Tompkin J, Schal C, Guerra LM, Pessoa GCD, Oliveira PL, Benoit JB. Deployment and transcriptional evaluation of nitisinone, an FDA-approved drug, to control bed bugs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.18.599347. [PMID: 38948842 PMCID: PMC11212946 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.18.599347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Bed bugs are blood-feeders that rapidly proliferate into large indoor infestations. Their bites can cause allergies, secondary infections and psychological stress, among other problems. Although several tactics for their management have been used, bed bugs continue to spread worldwide wherever humans reside. This is mainly due to human-mediated transport and their high resistance to several classes of insecticides. New treatment options with novel modes of action are required for their control. In this study, we evaluated the use of nitisinone (NTBC), an FDA-approved drug, for bed bug control in an insecticide-susceptible (HH) and an insecticide-resistant (CIN) population. Although NTBC was lethal to both populations when administered orally or applied topically in very low doses, we observed a slight but significant resistance in the CIN population. Transcriptomic analysis in both populations indicated that NTBC treatment elicited a broad suppression of genes associated with RNA post-transcriptional modifications, translation, endomembrane system, protein post-translational modifications and protein folding. The CIN population exhibited higher ATP production and xenobiotic detoxification. Feeding studies on a mouse model highlight that NTBC could be used as a control method of bed bugs by host treatment. The results demonstrate that NTBC can be used as a new active ingredient for bed bug control by topical or oral treatment and shed light on the molecular mechanisms of suppressed tyrosine metabolism following NTBC treatment.
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Djouaher T, Akhoundi M, Hamarsheh O, Sereno D, Chebbah D, Brahmi K, Chahed S, Brun S, Jan J, Izri A. First official report of bed bug (Hemiptera, Cimicidae) infestations in Algeria. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2024; 24:e00335. [PMID: 38235414 PMCID: PMC10792260 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Bed bugs are hematophagous insects with a long history of presence in human communities. Over the last three decades, infestations by bed bugs in human dwellings have drastically increased, leading to a rise in bed bug concerns. Nevertheless, very little is known about the bed bug species and their population diversity in Algeria. Method A pilot entomological inventory was performed in May 2019 in Tizi Ouzou, in northern Algeria. The gathered bed bug specimens were identified by morphological and molecular approaches, followed by neighbor-joining and network phylogenetic analyses. Results A total of seven out of 12 requested locations were allowed to inspect for bed bug infestation. Of these, three locations were found with active bed bug infestations. A total of 145 specimens belonging to different life stages [egg (21), nymph (74), adult male (17), and female (33)] were collected and analyzed using morphological and molecular approaches. The adult specimens were identified as Cimex lectularius according to specific morphological criteria, most importantly the pronotum laterally expanded with more flattened extreme margins. Morphological identification of the adults was confirmed further by conventional PCR targeting 450 bp fragment of the COI gene. All the nymphs and eggs were also molecularly identified as C. lectularius. Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic tree reconstructed with the collected specimens provides clues on the presence of two closely phylogenetic groups. The first one gathers our samples of Algeria with previously reported COI haplotype sequences from Asian, European, and North American countries. The second group encompasses a lesser-documented haplotype reported in Europe and Central America. These findings were further confirmed by network analysis. Conclusions These results provide evidence of established C. lectularius infestation in Algeria and its potential dispersal capacity by travelers or immigrants and will help future management of these ectoparasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thinhinane Djouaher
- Faculté des Sciences biologiques et des Sciences agronomiques, Département de biologie, Université Mouloud Mammeri, Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria
| | - Mohammad Akhoundi
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Bobigny, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, France
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Université-IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Omar Hamarsheh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 51000, Palestine
| | - Denis Sereno
- Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement, Montpellier University, MIVEGEC, Montpellier, France
- Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement, Montpellier University, InterTryp, Infectilogy, Entomology and One Health Research Group Montpellier, France
| | - Dahlia Chebbah
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Bobigny, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, France
| | - Karima Brahmi
- Faculté des Sciences biologiques et des Sciences agronomiques, Département de biologie, Université Mouloud Mammeri, Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria
| | - Soumeya Chahed
- Faculté des Sciences biologiques et des Sciences agronomiques, Département de biologie, Université Mouloud Mammeri, Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria
| | - Sophie Brun
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Bobigny, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, France
| | - Julie Jan
- Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) Île-de-France, 35, Rue de la Gare, CEDEX 19, 75935 Paris, France
| | - Arezki Izri
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Bobigny, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, France
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Université-IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
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